Stand alone name. As someone who has grown up with this name, I can say it is a blessing and a curse. It's a beautiful name, and everyone who meets me tells me so. On the other hand, almost no one ever has ever pronounced it right. I've gotten Alesia, Alyssa, Alesha, Alexa, Alessia, Alexia, and numerous different ones that the person didn't even try to pronounce correctly. I once even got Emma which just made me laugh. It's a name that you have to tell everyone you meet how to pronounce right at the moment so my mom and I have come up with a way to make it easier for people. We tell people, A-lace- ya, like lace on a dress. It seems to help. Apparently it is the Russian version of the name Alice but my favorite meaning is "girl from the forest." Although that might be the Olesya version of the name which I think they are pretty much the same. Nicknames include Lacey, Lacy, Lesy, or the Russian diminutive Alisochka.